AP1 faster than AP2?
07-09-2005 | 09:43 AM
#11
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,331
Likes: 0
From: Tallahassee, FL
Do you fully understand the consequences of leasing a car? You pay for the car each month, and you get NOTHING back in return at the end of your lease. It's like paying rent on an apartment. At least when you finance a used car, the price over 2-3 years isn't going to drop THAT much, and you'll only be out of a few grand. Leasing a car is even worse an investment than buying a car brand new. The best time to buy a car for money purposes (and when the exponential price curve starts to flatten out) is around 3-4 years old.
Say you have a lease for the next 3 years at 300 a month. 3,600 a year x3 is well over 10,000 dollars just to drive a car for a couple of years. A HORRIBLE investment. A lot of people lease cars because they couldn't otherwise drive a nicer newer car. However, you can get a 3 year old S2000 and be making the SAME payments as your lease, and you'll only lose maybe 3 or 4 thousand after 3 years. Let's say the difference then is 2 thousand extra a year to lease it. Is that really worth it just to have a new car? Hell, the difference over 3 years is the price of a Comptech supercharger + aftercooler
Say you have a lease for the next 3 years at 300 a month. 3,600 a year x3 is well over 10,000 dollars just to drive a car for a couple of years. A HORRIBLE investment. A lot of people lease cars because they couldn't otherwise drive a nicer newer car. However, you can get a 3 year old S2000 and be making the SAME payments as your lease, and you'll only lose maybe 3 or 4 thousand after 3 years. Let's say the difference then is 2 thousand extra a year to lease it. Is that really worth it just to have a new car? Hell, the difference over 3 years is the price of a Comptech supercharger + aftercooler
Always be a savvy consumer....people are out there to make money off of you. If you do your research, there is no such thing as a bad deal.
John
07-09-2005 | 01:45 PM
#14
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 523
Likes: 0
From: McGregor
Dark,
I've owned an AP1 (2000 Silverstone) and just recently purchased an AP2 (2005 Berlina Black). The AP1 is a blast to drive especially with the few extra RPMs. I found myself having to get used to the lowered limit on the AP2 since I was used to revving out to 9K. The AP1 will come around on you a little faster than the AP2. The contact patch on the AP2 is significantly more and the suspension is tuned differently. I would suggest looking into a used 03-04 model from a Honda dealer. If you can find a certified used S2000 at the dealer they will have their 4 year 48000 mile warranty attached (4 years from original date of purchase when the car was new). I put 55-60K miles on the AP1 I had with no issue so these are a quality built car even with the rabid high rev engine. Either way you go...you will probably want to buy because trust me, this car grabs you and doesn't let go (not even after 3 years of ownership).
Goodluck
BTW JWA4378...You can also do the time value of money on the cheaper financial calculators made by HP and TI (30 bucks compared to 100 or so for the TI-83). Dark could use extra 70 bucks for a good detailing lol. Good advice though
I've owned an AP1 (2000 Silverstone) and just recently purchased an AP2 (2005 Berlina Black). The AP1 is a blast to drive especially with the few extra RPMs. I found myself having to get used to the lowered limit on the AP2 since I was used to revving out to 9K. The AP1 will come around on you a little faster than the AP2. The contact patch on the AP2 is significantly more and the suspension is tuned differently. I would suggest looking into a used 03-04 model from a Honda dealer. If you can find a certified used S2000 at the dealer they will have their 4 year 48000 mile warranty attached (4 years from original date of purchase when the car was new). I put 55-60K miles on the AP1 I had with no issue so these are a quality built car even with the rabid high rev engine. Either way you go...you will probably want to buy because trust me, this car grabs you and doesn't let go (not even after 3 years of ownership).
Goodluck
BTW JWA4378...You can also do the time value of money on the cheaper financial calculators made by HP and TI (30 bucks compared to 100 or so for the TI-83). Dark could use extra 70 bucks for a good detailing lol. Good advice though
07-09-2005 | 02:07 PM
#15
Registered User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,552
Likes: 1
From: Orange County
Like everyone said, there really is no difference in speed between the two cars. However, the AP1 does have higher theoretical top-end with the gearing... so if you travel over 150mph on a regular basis, you might consider that. 
I'd never lease a car, but it's more a personal thing. I like knowing that I own the car, that I can keep it as long as I'd like, and modify it the way I see fit. For some people, leasing can actually be a sound financial move.
If you are always trading cars in every 2-3 years, leasing will likely be cheaper. Leasing... $300/mo for 36 months will cost you $10800 (+ drive-off). Buying the car for $30k and trading it in for $19-20k in three years will also cost you $10-11k. You really just have to decide if the option to keep the car longer than three years is worth the increased payments of a purchase.
In any event... get an AP2. Buy an 04 used, or lease an 05. I was torn between an 03 or new 05, but I'm thrilled with my decision.
I'd never lease a car, but it's more a personal thing. I like knowing that I own the car, that I can keep it as long as I'd like, and modify it the way I see fit. For some people, leasing can actually be a sound financial move.
If you are always trading cars in every 2-3 years, leasing will likely be cheaper. Leasing... $300/mo for 36 months will cost you $10800 (+ drive-off). Buying the car for $30k and trading it in for $19-20k in three years will also cost you $10-11k. You really just have to decide if the option to keep the car longer than three years is worth the increased payments of a purchase.
In any event... get an AP2. Buy an 04 used, or lease an 05. I was torn between an 03 or new 05, but I'm thrilled with my decision.
07-09-2005 | 02:23 PM
#16
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 203
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Originally Posted by 00S2KFAN,Jul 9 2005, 01:45 PM
Dark,
I've owned an AP1 (2000 Silverstone) and just recently purchased an AP2 (2005 Berlina Black). The AP1 is a blast to drive especially with the few extra RPMs. I found myself having to get used to the lowered limit on the AP2 since I was used to revving out to 9K. The AP1 will come around on you a little faster than the AP2. The contact patch on the AP2 is significantly more and the suspension is tuned differently. I would suggest looking into a used 03-04 model from a Honda dealer. If you can find a certified used S2000 at the dealer they will have their 4 year 48000 mile warranty attached (4 years from original date of purchase when the car was new). I put 55-60K miles on the AP1 I had with no issue so these are a quality built car even with the rabid high rev engine. Either way you go...you will probably want to buy because trust me, this car grabs you and doesn't let go (not even after 3 years of ownership).
Goodluck
BTW JWA4378...You can also do the time value of money on the cheaper financial calculators made by HP and TI (30 bucks compared to 100 or so for the TI-83). Dark could use extra 70 bucks for a good detailing lol. Good advice though
I've owned an AP1 (2000 Silverstone) and just recently purchased an AP2 (2005 Berlina Black). The AP1 is a blast to drive especially with the few extra RPMs. I found myself having to get used to the lowered limit on the AP2 since I was used to revving out to 9K. The AP1 will come around on you a little faster than the AP2. The contact patch on the AP2 is significantly more and the suspension is tuned differently. I would suggest looking into a used 03-04 model from a Honda dealer. If you can find a certified used S2000 at the dealer they will have their 4 year 48000 mile warranty attached (4 years from original date of purchase when the car was new). I put 55-60K miles on the AP1 I had with no issue so these are a quality built car even with the rabid high rev engine. Either way you go...you will probably want to buy because trust me, this car grabs you and doesn't let go (not even after 3 years of ownership).
Goodluck
BTW JWA4378...You can also do the time value of money on the cheaper financial calculators made by HP and TI (30 bucks compared to 100 or so for the TI-83). Dark could use extra 70 bucks for a good detailing lol. Good advice though
I think I will take my time (since I didn't even post my car for sale yet) and look for used 02 to 03, other than that I am gonna test drive at a local dealership and experience the famous AP2 engine at 8000!!!!
thank you for everyone's help. I hope my next post will be introduction to my new baby.
Dark
07-09-2005 | 04:07 PM
#20
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 16,702
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From: █ SF, CA █
Originally Posted by feistyS2K,Jul 9 2005, 04:32 PM
Also keep in mind, when leasing, you are limited to the amount of miles you can put on it if you intend on turning it back in at the end of the lease!
You never now when your commute might increase in mileage with a new job or you might find a mistress in another zip code...